FOR RELEASE: March 5, 2026
Media Contacts:
Amy Dolan, Conservation Biologist, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation; 970-579-5059; [email protected]
Rich Hatfield, Senior Conservation Biologist, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation; 503-212-0540; [email protected]
Santa Fe, New Mexico; March 5, 2026—A new statewide program is seeking volunteers to help researchers track and conserve New Mexico’s bumble bees. The New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas aims to document the locations and habitat needs of native bumble bees across the state. The project is led by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and funded by the Carroll Petrie Foundation.
New Mexico is home to at least 22 species of bumble bees, who are highly-efficient pollinators essential to agricultural production and the health of native plant communities. Unfortunately, several bumble bee species native to New Mexico are at risk, having undergone steep declines in recent decades.
“Bumble bees are incredibly important pollinators, but they haven't yet been well studied in New Mexico,” said Amy Dolan, a conservation biologist with the Xerces Society, who is coordinating the state’s program. “In order to conserve them, we have to learn where they are and which habitats they're using. Bumble bees are small and not always easy to find, so we're asking volunteers from all parts of the state to join us in this quest with the Bumble Bee Atlas.”
New Mexico is the 21st state in the U.S. to join the Bumble Bee Atlas, a growing coalition of programs run by the Xerces Society and partners. Last year, Bumble Bee Atlas participants across the U.S. completed almost 3,000 surveys documenting more than 30,000 bumble bees. The information is helping researchers understand which species are at risk, map species ranges, and design conservation plans.
“Volunteers with the Bumble Bee Atlas in other states have already helped scientists identify new populations of rare species and inform land management,” said Rich Hatfield, conservation biologist with the Xerces Society who coordinates the program nationally. “We hope participants in New Mexico will help us track down species like Cockerell’s bumble bee, which may have the smallest range of any bumble bee in the world.”
Scientists hope data from the Bumble Bee Atlas will help find solutions to recover threatened species. Six of New Mexico’s bumble bees have been petitioned to gain federal protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. In 2025, four bumble bee species were added to the state’s Wildlife Action Plan as Species of Greatest Conservation Need: Cockerell's (Bombus cockerelli), Morrison's (B. morrisoni), Southern plains (B. fraternus), and Western (B. occidentalis) bumble bee. Data deficiencies for these species have left conservationists with little information to work with when making land management decisions.
Dolan says the project is seeking volunteers across the state of New Mexico. To make the biggest impact, volunteers will be encouraged to survey outside of the more populated cities and towns.
“It makes sense that community science projects often collect the most data near cities and towns, where people live,” said Dolan. “However, New Mexico is a state with diverse landscapes, some of which are quite remote. So surveying sparsely populated areas is crucial if we are to figure out where bumble bees currently live and which habitats they’re using.”
Atlas volunteers will conduct surveys for bumble bees, using catch-and-release methods to photograph and record each bee they encounter. Photographs will be submitted to an online platform, Bumble Bee Watch, where sightings will be verified to species by experts. No bumble bees will be lethally taken for this effort.
Anyone is welcome to join the New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas. No prior experience is necessary. Before collecting data on their own, participants must receive training to learn how to complete surveys, take high-quality photographs of bumble bees, and submit observations to Bumble Bee Watch. To join this project, sign up for the training webinar on Thursday, April 16 at 5:30pm and view additional opportunities at bumblebeeatlas.org.
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For more information about the New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas project, please visit bumblebeeatlas.org/pages/nmbba. To receive updates, sign up for the mailing list or follow the Bumble Bee Atlas on Instagram and Facebook.